Motorway police must avoid unlawful challans

The Supreme Court has ordered authorities to submit the complete medical record of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan and provide detailed information about his meetings with his sisters over the past three years. A three-member bench led by Justice Shahid Waheed heard petitions concerning Imran’s access to his family, personal doctors and medical records. During the hearing, the court was informed that Imran’s sisters had met him 48 times during the last three years. The judges sought the complete record of these meetings. The court also asked authorities to provide details of telephone calls between Imran and his children. Justice Shahid Waheed questioned why Islamabad High Court orders concerning meetings with Imran had not been implemented. The court summoned why  officials from Adiala Jail and directed them to explain the situation at the next hearing. The court was particularly concerned about Imran’s medical information. Justice Waheed directed the Islamabad advocate general to submit the complete medical record instead of a summary. The judge questioned why the full record could not be provided to the court. Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan also raised questions about a recommendation for Imran to undergo angiography. He asked whether the procedure could be carried out while Imran remained in jail. The Islamabad advocate general replied that the procedure could be performed at a hospital outside the prison. Justice Waheed expressed concern over the medical reports presented before the court. He observed that the reports indicated problems with Imran’s pulse and heart and suggested that some of his vital organs could be affected. The court also discussed the importance of family meetings for Imran’s health. Justice Waheed made it clear that meetings with Imran’s sisters should not be treated as a concession. “Meeting his sisters is not a favour; it is their fundamental right,” the judge observed. Imran’s sister, Uzma Khanum, was present during the proceedings. However, Justice Afghan stopped her from addressing the court directly and advised her to speak through her lawyer. Her counsel, Uzair Bhandari, assured the court that Imran’s sisters would not hold a media briefing outside Adiala Jail after meeting him. He also requested that Imran’s personal physician, Dr Asim Yusuf, and Uzma Khanum be allowed to meet the PTI founder. The court further sought comprehensive details about the legal cases against Imran. Authorities were asked to clarify the number of cases in which he is facing trial, the cases resulting in convictions and those in which his sentences have been suspended. The proceedings came after a medical board recommended greater interaction between Imran and his immediate family. The board said regular family contact could help manage his anxiety and blood pressure. According to the medical information presented to the court, Imran has experienced fluctuating blood pressure, palpitations, headaches, restlessness and anxiety. A cardiologist at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences examined him on August 1. His blood pressure was recorded at 140/100mmHg. The doctor recommended measures to reduce mental stress, including increased family interaction and access to reading material. A four-member medical board examined Imran again on August 10. His blood pressure was recorded at 140/80mmHg. The board recommended daily walking and relaxation. It also suggested more frequent interaction with his immediate family and spouse to help control his anxiety and blood pressure. The medical report stated that Imran had undergone at least 39 medical examinations since his imprisonment. Jail doctors were also reportedly checking him three times a day. The report said his ECG was normal. It also stated that his eyesight had improved significantly after treatment for an eye condition. The PTI has challenged the completeness and authenticity of the medical information. The party has demanded examinations by Imran’s personal doctors, Dr Asim Yusuf and Dr Faisal Sultan, as well as an independent medical board. The government, however, has rejected allegations that Imran is being denied proper medical care. Government officials maintain that he is receiving treatment from qualified specialists and that his medical care and meetings are being managed according to the law and court orders.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has told the Federal Constitutional Court that no “PTI founder release force” was ever established, describing the initiative instead as a peaceful movement for the release of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan. Afridi submitted an eight-page response in the case through the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa advocate general. The response was filed after the Federal Constitutional Court sought his position on a petition challenging the alleged formation of the so-called release force. In his response, the chief minister said the actual initiative was the Release Peace Movement, which he described as peaceful, unarmed and voluntary. He maintained that the movement had no armed structure or military component. Afridi further argued that the constitutional petition was politically motivated and based on misrepresentation of facts. He said the petition was premature, hypothetical and therefore not maintainable. According to the chief minister, the petitioner had also failed to establish any violation of fundamental rights. Afridi said the Release Peace Movement was protected under Articles 16, 17 and 19 of the Constitution. These provisions relate to freedom of assembly, freedom of association and freedom of speech and expression. He also argued that Article 256 of the Constitution, which concerns private military organisations, had no relevance to the movement. The KP chief minister maintained that the Private Military Organisations Act, 1973 was also not applicable to the Release Peace Movement. He rejected allegations that the initiative posed a threat to public order. He described such claims as baseless and said comparisons between the movement and armed organisations of the past were misleading. Afridi asked the court to dismiss the constitutional petition at the preliminary stage. He also requested the court to declare the Release Peace Movement constitutional and lawful. The case comes amid political controversy over claims that the KP government or PTI supporters were preparing an organisation to campaign for Imran Khan’s release. Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had previously criticised the KP government over the issue, alleging that it could establish a release force for the PTI founder while remaining silent against militants. The Federal Constitutional Court has scheduled the next hearing of the petition for July 29.